Air diffusing base register



Oct. 30, 1956 c. J. PEARSON 2,768,57

AIR DIFFUSING BASE REGISTER Filed March 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 6". clfearsan nite States Patent AIR DIFFUSING BASE REGISTERCharles J. Pearson, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to United StatesRegister Company, Battle Creek, Micln, a corporation of MichiganApplication March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342,445

Claims. (Cl. 98-406) This invention relates broadly to a new andimproved register, and more specifically to a register designedprimarily for use in the so-called perimeter systems for directing hotor cold air from a duct into a room from a point at the juncture of thefloor and wall.

Ordinarily hot air registers merely direct air flowing through same in astraight outward stream, and moreover where same are in the form of aregister opening outward from a wall at floor level they require cuttinginto the wall. It was a recognition of the shortcomings of suchconstructions and the need of an improved assembly avoiding thesedifficulties which led to the conception and development of the presentinvention.

Accordingly one of the principal objects of the present invention is theprovision of a simple, compact and efficient register for installationin the angle between a floor and wall, without the necessity of cuttinginto the wall, cutting any studs, or cutting the stud-supporting plate.

Another object is to provide an improved register which will not projectobjectionably into the room from the base board and will not projectobjectionably above said base board.

A further object is to provide a register having such an arrangement ofgrille bars as to permit widely diffusing the hot air delivered from afurnace, in manner effectively blanketing the walls and windows andinsuring efiicient heating.

Another object is to provide the register with a novel pivoted,friction-held damper behind the grille bars and readily adjustable bymeans of a conveniently accessible handle, for controlling the hot airoutput through the register.

Yet another object is to provide for spacing the register casingsufiiciently above the floor to allow the edge of a rug to be insertedunder the front portion of said casing; and if wall-to-wall carpeting isto be used, necessitating notching of the carpeting to receive theregister, the notched portion may extend under the front and side edgesof the casing so that the more or less ragged edges of the notch will behidden and protected against fraying.

A still further object is to provide a novel register comprising a headfor attachment to the wall, said head having a lower portion to extendthrough a floor opening directly below same for communication with anair duct, and a grille-and-damper carrying casing attachable to saidhead after all wall, ceiling, floor and trim decoration has beencompleted. Thus, danger of spattering or daubing the casing with paint,varnish or the like is overcome.

Yet another object is to provide a register which will substantiallyprevent leakage of air between the wall and the register casing and willso discharge the air as to normally clear curtains and draperies hung atwindows above same. The register will therefore be free from theobjection of smudging curtains, draperies, and wall with dust which hasheretofore been almost inevitable.

A further object is to provide a novel construction which may be easily,rapidly and relatively inexpensively 'ice manufactured, may beprofitably marketed at a reasonable price, and will be highly efficient,desirable, and durable.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists of the air diffusing base register hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexeddrawings and the following description setting forth in detail certainmeans for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating,however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the inventionmay be used.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the register, showing the register ininstalled position.

Figure 2 is a right end elevation of the assembly shown in Figure 1 whenmounted in position of use, the casing being partly broken away and insection, to disclose the encased head.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on line 33 of Figure1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the head.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the casing and the damper mountedtherein.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on line 66 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on line 7-7 ofFigure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing one of thefriction brakes for holding the damper in adjusted position.

Figure 8 is an end elevation showing a register of more slender and moreshallow form than that shown in the preceding views.

In the drawings above briefly described, a register construction hasbeen shown which has: proven to be of advantage from the severalstandpoints of manufacture, sale, installation, and use, and while thatconstruction will be rather specifically described for ease ofunderstanding the invention, it is to be understood that variations maybe made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

A hot or cold air receiving and discharging head 10 is provided, saidhead being formed from sheet metal. This head 10 comprises arectangular, vertical back wall 11, vertically elongated end walls 12projecting forwardly from the vertical edges of said back wall 11, afront Wall 13 extending between the lower portions of the front edges 14of said end walls 12, and a top wall 15 extendlag between the upper endsof said end walls 12 and projecting forwardly from the upper edge ofsaid back wall 11. The front wall 13 is relatively narrow vertically,the top wall 15 is narrow from front to rear, and the front edges 14 ofthe end walls 12 incline rearwardly from the upper end of said frontwall 13 to the front edge of said top wall 15. The edges 14 are somewhatin advance of the front wall 13 at their lower ends, and

said front wall has a flange 16 on its upper end which projectsforwardly to the inclined plane in which said edges 14- and the frontedge of the top wall 15 are located. The front of the head 10 isentirely open from the flange 16 to the top wall 15 for air discharge,and the lower end of said head is entirely open for air reception.

In the present disclosure, the back wall 11 and the end walls 12 of thehead 10 are integral with each other. The top wall 15 is also integralwith the back wall 11. The ends of this top Wall 15 have downwardly bentflanges 17 stapled or otherwise fastened at 18 to the end walls 12. Thefront wall 13 is preferably separate from Patented Oct. 30, 1956 the endwalls 12 and is provided with end flanges 19 stapled or otherwisefastened at 20 to said end walls.

The lower end portion of the head is adapted to extend through anopening 21, Figure 2, in a floor 22 for communication with a hot or coldair duct 23; and to limit the extent of insertion of said head into saidopening, the front wall 13 of said head is provided with a forwardlyprojecting stop flange 24 adapted to rest on the upper face of floor 22.This flange in preferably carried by a strip of metal 25, Figure 6,stapled or otherwise fastened at 26 to the front face of the front wall13. The lower edge of said strip 25 is formed with a backwardlyextending hook flange 27 receiving the lower end. of the front wall 13.The stop flange 24 is thus accurately located and stably mounted towithstand rough handling during installation of the head.

The back wall 11 of the head 10 is adapted to rest solidly against aroom wall 28, Figure 2, and said head is provided with angular attachingbrackets 29 to be fastened by screws 30 to said Wall. These brackets 29are riveted or otherwise conventionally fastened to the end walls 12 ofthe head 10. Also riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to those endwalls 12, near their front edges 14, are two angle brackets 31 for usein connecting an enclosing casing 32 to the head 10, said casing beingprovided with an air-diffusing grille 33, Figure l, 3, and 6, and with adamper 34 as will be more fully described below.

This casing 32 comprises a front wall 35, two end walls 36, and a topwall 37. The front wall 35 is of a length to project sidewise beyond theside walls 12 of the head It), and is of a height to extend a shortdistance below the flange 16 of the head 10 and a somewhat similardistance above the top wall of said head. The front wall 35 is securedby screws 38 to the brackets 31 of the head 10 and occupies an inclinedposition in which it lies against the front edges 14 of the end walls 12of said head 10. The top wall 37 then overlies the top wall 15 of thehead 10, and the end walls 36 are outwardly spaced from the end walls 12of said head sufficiently to clear the brackets 29 and 31. The rearedges of the end and top walls 36 and 37, respectively, are preferablyin the same vertical plane with the rear side of the back wall 11 of thehead 10 to tightly abut the wall 28. The lower edges of the front wall35 and end walls 36 are in a substantially horizontal plane sufficientlyabove the stop flange 24 of the head 10 to permit insertion of a mg 39,Figure 2, under the front and side portions of the casing 32, Ifwall-to-wall carpeting is to be used, such carpeting may be notched toreceive the head 10 and may extend under the end walls 36 as well asunder the front wall 35. Thus, any more or less ragged edges of thenotch in the carpet will be hidden and guarded against fraying.

The air-diffusing grille 33, Figures 1, 3, and 6, covers an opening 40in the casing front wall 35 and preferably consists of vertical grillebars 41 stamped from a sheet metal plate 42. This plate is welded orotherwise fastened to the rear side of the casing front wall 35, andthis front wall, in turn, is Welded to flanges 43 and 44, Figure 6, onthe casing end walls 36, and top wall 37. The top wall 37 is also weldedor otherwise fastened to flange-s 45 on the upper ends of the end walls36. All walls of the casing 32 and the grille 33 are thus rigidly unitedinto a single unit.

The grille bars 41 are set at such angles as to widely diffuse the airdischarged between them. Preferably there is a central group 46, ofthese bars, Figure 3, having no pitch to the right or left, two endgroups 47 pitched sidewise at 45, and two intermediate groups 48 pitchedsidewise at about 22. The grille bars, thus fanned out, give widediffusion to the hot or cold air, not only insuring better and moreuniform room heating or cooling, but getting away from the conventionaland more localized air blasts with their tendency to cause smudging ofwalls, draperies and curtains with dust. The amount of hot or cold airdischarged through the grille may be readily controlled by the damper34, Figure 6, which is forwardly or rearwardly swingable to any desiredposition by means of a handle 49 which extends outwardly between two ofthe grille bars 41 of the central group 46, and said damper is held inany position to which it may be adjusted, by means of a novel frictionbrake, as described below.

A hinge leaf 50, Figures 6 and 7, is flanged and fastened, as by weldingto the upper portion of the plate 42 which is, in turn, welded orotherwise suitably fastened to the casing front wall 35, said plate 42being the plate from which the grille bars 41 are stamped. The leaf 5t)projects rearwardly above the opening 40 of the casing front plate 35and at its rear edge is provided with knuckles 51, Figure 5. Theseknuckles mesh with other knuckles 52 on a second hinge leaf 53 which iswelded or otherwise conventionally fastened to the rear side of thedamper 34, and a hinge pin 54 extends through all of said knuckles. Inthe present showing, the leaf 53 and damper 34 are slotted at 55 and theinner end of the handle 49 extends through the slots, said inner endhaving a flange 56 welded or otherwise conventionally fastened to saidleaf 53.

The central one of the hinge knuckles 52 is preferably longer than therest, and under the two knuckles 51 abutting said central one, the hingeleaf 53 is provided with two rearwardly stamped fulcrum flanges 57.Vertical plates 58 behind the damper 34, Figures 5 and 7, contact withthe rear edges of these fulcrum flanges, and the upper ends of theseplates 53 have forwardly and upwardly bent brake portions 59 contactingwith the lower and front sides of the adjacent knuckles 51. These brakeportions extend through slots 60 and 61 in the leaf 53 and damper 34,respectively. The slots 60 are formed by the rearward stamping of thefulcrum flanges 57, while the slots 61 are simply formed to accommodatesaid brake portions 59. The lower ends of the plates 58 are connectedwith the damper 34 by screws 62 which are swiveled in openings 63 in theleaf 53 and have their heads 64 received in openings 65 in the damper34. The rear ends of the screws 62 are threaded at 66 through the plates58 at points below the fulcrum flanges 57.

From the preceding paragraph, it will be seen that the friction of thebrake portions 59 against the two contacting knuckles 51 will hold thedamper 34 frictionally, when screws 62 are appropriately tightened, inany position to which it may be swung by means of the handle 49. Thescrew heads 64 are accessible with a slender screw driver insertedbetween the grille bars 41, and the screws 62 may therefore be readilytightened to restore the proper braking friction should it becomeweakened by repeated damper adjustments. 7

From the above detailed description of the present register assembly itwill be seen that a novel and advantageous provision has been disclosedfor attaining the desired ends, in relatively simple, positive, andeflicient manner, nevertheless it is to be understood that minor changesand variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention having due regard that such words as horizontal,vertical, ends, top, bottom, and back are purely relative and used as anaid to describing the invention as illustrated.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the articleand combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any ofthe following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

1 therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A heating or air conditioning system base register having a head inthe form of a tubular lower air inlet portion adapted for insertion downthrough a floor opening, a metal strip secured in fixed position on theouter face of one wall of said portion and having a hook flange engagingthe lower end of said wall, the upper edge of said strip having anoutwardly bent stop flange to abut the top of the room floor and limitinsertion of said portion into the floor opening.

2. In a register, a casing having a grille, a damper behind said grille,one hinge leaf secured in fixed position to said casing and having hingeknuckles, a second hinge leaf secured to said damper in fixed positionand having hinge knuckles meshing with those aforesaid, a hinge pinextending through said knuckles of said leaves to facilitate hingingmovement of said damper on said casing, a plate, a fulcrum means on saiddamper, said plate being fulcrumed between its ends behind said secondleaf carried by said damper, said plate having a brake portion at itsupper end engaging the front side of a knuckle of said first mentionedhinge leaf, and an adjusting screw connecting the lower end of saidplate with said second leaf for varying the pressure exerted by thebrake portion of said plate on said knuckle of the first mentioned hingeleaf, said second hinge leaf having a rearwardly projecting flangeconstituting the fulcrum of said plate.

3. In a register, a casing having a grille, a damper behind said grille,one hinge leaf secured in fixed position to said casing at one edge ofsaid grille and having hinge knuckles, a second hinge leaf secured to anedge portion of said damper in fixed position and having hinge knucklesmeshing between those of said first mentioned hinge leaf, a hinge pinextending through said knuckles of said leaves to facilitate hingingmovement of said damper on said casing, a separate friction brake meansmounted on one of said leaves, said friction brake means having aportion frictionally engaging the outer face of a knuckle of the otherof said leaves to frictionally hold said damper in various positions,and a threaded member operatively connected to said leaf carrying saidfriction brake means, said threaded means engaging said friction brakemeans and adapted to control the pressure exerted by same on saidknuckle which it frictionally engages.

4. In a register, a casing having a grille, a damper behind said grille,one hinge leaf secured in fixed position to said casing at one edge ofsaid grille and having hinge knuckles, a second hinge leaf secured to anedge portion of said damper in fixed position and having hinge knucklesmeshing between those of said first mentioned hinge leaf, a hinge pinextending through said knuckles of said leaves to facilitate hingingmovement of said damper on said casing, and a separate friction brakemeans mounted on one of said leaves, said friction brake means having aportion frictionally engaging the outer face of a knuckle of the otherof said leaves to frictionally hold said damper in various positions,said friction brake means including a friction adjusting elementaccessible through said grille.

5. In a register, a casing having a grille, a damper behind said grille,one hinge leaf secured in fixed position to said casing and having hingeknuckles, a second hinge leaf secured to said damper in fixed positionand having hinge knuckles meshing with those aforesaid, a hinge pinextending through said knuckes of said leaves to facilirate hingingmovement of said damper on said casing, a plate, a fulcrum means on saiddamper, said plate being fulcrumed between its ends behind said secondleaf car ried by said damper, said plate having a brake portion at itsupper end engaging the front side of a knuckle of said first mentionedhinge leaf, and an adjusting screw connecting the lower end of saidplate with said second leaf for varying the pressure exerted by thebrake portion of said plate on said knuckle of the first mentioned hingeleaf.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,023,278 Scherer n Apr. 16, 1912 1,054,266 Bailey Feb. 25, 19131,162,398 Quick Nov. 30, 1915 1,166,412 Hart Dec. 28, 1915 1,359,360 DeGraff Nov. 16, 1920 1,696,252 Petrelli Dec. 25, 1928 1,811,231 GehriJune 23, 1931 1,815,346 Covell July 21, 1931 1,844,520 Olinger Feb. 9,1932 2,051,929 Young et al Aug. 25, 1936 2,037,104 Eisler July 13, 19372,395,233 Richardson Feb. 19, 1946 2,466,353 Babcock Apr. 5, 19492,639,655 Whitehead May 26, 1953

